Manslaughter with a firearm
R. v. Campbell
- On release at the time
Sentence and the Crown's position
What the law allows
Bryce Dallas Lee Campbell pleaded guilty to manslaughter with a firearm as one of three masked men who confined a man in his basement suite in Surrey in April 2022, where one of them fatally shot him; the Crown could not prove who fired. Crown and defence jointly proposed five years in custody followed by 24 months of probation. Justice Brundrett accepted the joint submission, noting that it reflected limits in the Crown's case, and gave 1,100 days of credit for pre-sentence custody.
In the judge's words
1The most important principles applicable here are deterrence, retribution and denunciation. His sentence must reflect our community's rejection of gun violence as inexcusable and intolerable. It must also reflect society's condemnation of the attack on a person confronted in their own home.
The record
- Convicted of
- Manslaughter with a firearm (CC 236(a))
- Prior convictions
- Not recorded
- At the time of the offence
- On bail1
- Defence asked for
- 5 years in custody1
- Appeal
- Not yet checked
- Counsel
- Crown: A. Lee, M.P. Bussanich
Defence: J. Dosanjh, T.R. McLean
Sources
- R. v. Campbell, 2025 BCSC 2302 Court decision, CanLII, October 9, 2025
[5] With respect to the appropriate sentence, counsel have jointly proposed a sentence of five years in custody, with 24 months of probation and various ancillary orders.
[5] With respect to the appropriate sentence, counsel have jointly proposed a sentence of five years in custody, with 24 months of probation and various ancillary orders.
[1] Bryce Dallas Campbell entered a guilty plea to a charge of manslaughter where a firearm was used in the commission of the offence, contrary to s. 236(a) of the Criminal Code, R.S.C., 1985, c. C-46, s. 490 [Code].
2. Mr. Campbell was subject to a bail order at the time of the offence with a curfew from 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. every day.
The most important principles applicable here are deterrence, retribution and denunciation. His sentence must reflect our community's rejection of gun violence as inexcusable and intolerable. It must also reflect society's condemnation of the attack on a person confronted in their own home.
[52] You are sentenced to five years' imprisonment. From this will be subtracted credit for 733 actual days served on this charge, reflecting 1,100 days of credit for time served at the usual rate. The sentence left to be served is 725 days, which is just under two years in custody. … [54] There will be a probation order of 24 months following your release.
- R. v. Campbell, 2025 BCSC 2302 Court decision, Courts of British Columbia